Theos-Talk Archives (February 1998 Message tt00189)

As we ease back into our armchair of comfortable thought, and try to profess
a longing for infinite wisdom - finite enough to be understood - and sit
with t.v., dinner, magazine, and footstool. . .

WHEN we look to those experiences which are most pleasurable in one's
lifestyle, it is the familiar, and the homely (as opposed to the passions,
and the aspect of 'newness' invigorating). It is rather repetition, and
anticipation of repetition, when we settle down to welcome and enjoy, some
simple, but pleasurable, experience.

Some things we never seem to tire of. In point of fact, they better, with
each and every day. And we get used to the way that we prepare our own cup
of tea, and we savour those favourite recipes within our own home life, and
although the slippers are not outstandingly special, they are worn through,
and made more comfortable with time; and all that we treasure - those
objects made special, that invoke such pleasure to be around - they too have
their significance, in our happy, settled, comforts.

There is of course, pleasure, outside of this definition. Pleasure,
passionate pleasure, in which one indulges, and extracts from, some entirely
new encounter. But this form of pleasure, the excited rather than the simple
and the humble, is not of discussion today.
And if we are to prepare ourselves for new experiences, and be open to new
forms of thinking, and being, for that matter, then are we to sever some of
that pleasure, which hitherto has come from familiarity; and if so, do we
not feel pained by this loss?

One must remember that the beliefs of another are not simply philosophical
perspective, objective and unexperienced. Firstly there are elements of
truth to every idea (or else the idea itself should not exist) and there are
small amounts, or large amounts of value placed to each idea - and lastly,
furthermore, there is the association of man to his ideas, the bonding,
which holds them dear to him, those which are especially familiar, and well
known by him. And so if we are to expect another to instantly sever
themselves from the ideas which they have formerly held and experienced,
then we are to understand that they are not merely ideas, but concepts held
precious, because of the pleasure brought about by their relationship; now
familiar.

Therefore, unless one is to upset a man entirely (and this is never
advised), then one must look to building upon and enhancing a brother's
concepts, rather than trying to wipe away, or destroy their familiar base.
And this can be done.
-B.Hive